The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1887-02-19
Washir gton Letter.
Feb. 1887
From our regular Core pon,lent.)
WAsuiN TIN. Feb Is 1887

WAsuiN TIN. Feb Is 1887
The President sent to the II ,use List
Saturday afternoon his veto of the bill
pensloning honorably discharged ST.
diers or their dependent parents. /, Il 9
message he first raises the objection to
the hill that it is an avowed departure
from the principle thus far adhered to
respecting Union soldiers: that the
bounty ofthe government in the way
ofpensiops is generously bestowed when
granted to those who, in this military
service aud in the line of military duty,
have to a greater or less extent, been
disabled. He admits however that ser.
vice pensions are not new thing under
this government, as they were provided
for soldiers of the Revolution, of the
war of 49, 2, and of the Mexican war,
but in each they were not granted until
a time so remote from the military
service of the persons whom they EN-
braced that their extreme age alone wa S
deemed to supply a presumption of de-
tendency and need.
He objects that the bill exacts only
a service of three months, without any
requirement of actual engagement in
battle, and awards pensions to men who
have sustained no injury referable to
military service or who may have never
reached the front at all. The sectielk al-,
Lowing the pension of Sl2 per month
seems to him to be uncertain and Via
lie to, such conflicting constructions
and to be subject to such unjust and
mischievous application as to alone fur
nish sufficient grounl for disappearing
the proposed legislation.
A meeting Of democrats of the Hcu Q
to take action with relation CO. Secretary
Manniny's reply was held last week.
Among those present were Speaker Car
Isle and Messrs. Morrison, Mills, Waa-
yer, Warner and Wilkens. Instead of
drawing up articles Of impeachment
against Mr.. Manning, as had been sug-
gested, Speaker Carlisle was appointed
a committee Of one to consult with the
President and to arrange for u hearing
on the subject for the other gentlemen,
if necessary. 1t was subsequently de.
cided to be unnecessary for the others
to wait on the President, as the Speak
ers conference with him was perfectly
satisfactory. Representative Weav r
5 "d that he had received word from the
President that he had directed Secretary
Mtnning to obey the law concerning 81
and 81 United States notes, and to is
sue the same: that the order was EN-
phatic and was given to Mr.. Manning
orally, but would be reduced to writing
and delivered to the Secretary at once.
A nunbtr Of enlisted men of he
s ynal corps have prepared a statement
ewing reaHn' why, in their Judgment,
the weather bureau shoald be transfer
red from military management to civil
adm abstraction. They set out that the
duties in which the signal service is now
engaged are civil and not military. As
question Of proper civil administra-
ton it seems perfectly clear that it is
not good government to put branch
If the service that has no necessary re-
lation to military affairs un Ter the re-
CINE of a military establishment. Tie
postal, internal revenue, light house and
the life-savlng services, where lite and
property are often imperiled, and where
the requirements of faithful, watch
ful and continuous service of persons
instructed with such duties and respon.
sibilities are as important as any Of the
duties of the weather bureau, are left
to civil control with almost perfect Sc
curity Of havin1 an eff ctiye service.